Even seasoned gardeners can inadvertently harm their plants by either overwatering or underwatering them. But there's an easy solution to keep your plants healthy— even if you don't have a green thumb.
Self-watering planters make at-home gardening hassle-free by reducing watering frequency and providing your plants with just the right amount of water. Not only do they make plant care less of a chore, but they also keep your plants lush and green without daily watering.
So, to help you keep your plants looking their best, we've rounded up the best self-watering planters and some helpful information to know before you shop.
How Do Self-Watering Planters And Pots Work?
Before you begin shopping for self-watering planters, you'll want to understand how self-watering planters work and if they're the right choice for your plants. Unlike a standard planter, a self-watering container is designed with an internal irrigation system that allows soil and plant roots to soak up water without getting soggy. This typically consists of a water reservoir, drainage hole, and wicking capabilities to keep the soil at an optimal moisture level for plant growth.
While self-watering planters are great for herbs, veggies, flowers, and leafy plants, they aren't the best choice for low-water plants like cacti and succulents that rot easily with overwatering. Most will need to have their water reservoir refilled every one to two weeks, though watering frequency varies from plant to plant.
What to Consider When Shopping For Self-Watering Planters
Size and Capacity
Take into account the size and type of plants you plan to cultivate. Certain self-watering planters are more suitable for larger plants or accommodating multiple smaller plants, while others excel with compact or hanging plant varieties. It's important to match the planter size with the specific needs of your chosen plant. Ensure it has adequate space for the plant's root system to thrive. Additionally, choose a planter with an appropriate water reservoir size to provide consistent moisture for your specific plant.
Material
Self-watering planters come in various materials, each with its own advantages. Plastic planters combine lightweight construction with durability, making them a prime choice for outdoor applications. Ceramic or clay planters offer a more decorative and natural look but can be heavier and more susceptible to breakage. Wooden planters are attractive but require more maintenance to prevent rot.
Materials for outdoor planters vary widely, with popular options including weather-resistant materials like fiberglass, resin, and cedar for their durability and ability to withstand the elements. Choosing the right material for your outdoor planters is crucial to ensure they complement your outdoor space and provide longevity and protection for your plants.
Watering System
Self-watering planters utilize different watering systems. Some use wicks, while others employ a wicking mat or a water reservoir with a water-level indicator. Choose a system that best suits your plant's watering needs. Wicking systems are excellent for most plants, while larger plants might benefit from a mat-based system.
Water-Level Indicator
A self-watering planter with a built-in water-level indicator is a valuable feature. This indicator allows you to easily monitor the water level, preventing overwatering or underwatering, which is crucial for plant health.
Drainage
Even in self-watering planters, ensuring proper drainage is crucial to prevent waterlogged soil, protect the plant's roots, and ultimately prevent root rot. When selecting planters, particularly for outdoor use, opt for models incorporating a drainage hole or tray to collect excess water effectively.
Plant Health
Check if the planter promotes proper air circulation. Adequate aeration prevents soil compaction and ensures oxygen reaches the roots.
Design and Aesthetics
Consider the planter's design, color, and style. Select a self-watering planter that harmonizes with your home or garden aesthetics. These planters offer a diverse range of designs and colors, ensuring you can find one that aligns with your personal taste.
Ease of Use
Evaluate how easy it is to refill the water reservoir. Some self-watering planters feature a removable top, making accessing the water compartment convenient without disturbing the plant.
Mobility
If you anticipate moving your planter frequently, look for models with wheels or built-in handles. These features make it easier to reposition your plants as needed.
Price
Determine your budget for a self-watering planter. While it's essential to find one within your price range, also consider the value it offers in terms of features, quality, and longevity.
UV Resistance
If you plan to place the planter in direct sunlight, check if it is UV-resistant. UV-resistant materials will help prevent fading and damage due to sun exposure.
The 7 Best Self-Watering Planters
Phoenix Vine 8 Inch Self Watering Planter Pot
Best Overall
overall
Price
$$
Material Quality
Sturdiness
Ease of Use
The Phoenix Vine Self Watering Planter Pot seamlessly blends style and functionality, rendering it an excellent option for plant enthusiasts. Whether you possess ample gardening experience or are new to plant care, this planter streamlines the process while ensuring your plants stay consistently well-hydrated.
Crafted from durable terracotta, it effortlessly harmonizes aesthetics and utility, rendering it appropriate for both indoor and outdoor environments. The efficient self-watering reservoir system ensures a consistent water supply to your plants, reducing the need for daily maintenance—a boon for those with busy schedules or frequent travel. While compact in size, it accommodates smaller plants and herbs effectively. However, a larger option may be more suitable for larger plants due to its limited capacity.
Setting up the self-watering system is simple, ensuring user-friendliness that caters to individuals of all skill levels. Considering its quality, efficiency, and affordability, this self-watering planter offers excellent value.
Size
4, 6, 8 and 10 inch
Material
Terracotta and glass
Weight
1 pound
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Room Essentials Self-Watering Planter
Most Budget Friendly
overall
Price
$
Material Quality
Sturdiness
Ease of Use
Room Essentials Self-Watering Planter is a budget-friendly choice and an attractive option for cost-conscious plant enthusiasts. Its most noteworthy attribute is its cost-effectiveness, extending accessibility to a broad spectrum of consumers.
The self-watering system ensures consistent plant hydration, reducing the need for frequent manual watering—an advantageous feature for those with busy schedules or a tendency to forget regular plant care. Available in four different sizes, it capably accommodates any size plant, aligning its functionality with its budget-friendly price point.
Setting up this self-watering mechanism is a breeze, catering to both beginners and experienced gardeners. In terms of value, this budget-friendly self-watering planter effectively balances quality and affordability, making it a practical choice for those seeking an economical solution to plant care. If you're looking to maintain healthy, hydrated plants without breaking the bank, this planter is worth considering.
Size
4, 8, 12, 16, 20 inch
Material
Plastic
Weight
.4 pounds
What We Like
What We Don't Like
GARDENIX DECOR Self Watering Pots for Indoor Plants
Best Value
overall
Price
$
Material Quality
Sturdiness
Ease of Use
This self-watering planter tailored for house plants provides a practical solution for those looking to simplify the process of maintaining indoor greenery. Its indoor-friendly design, efficient watering system, and user-friendliness make it a suitable choice for anyone seeking to nurture healthy indoor plants easily.
Its indoor-friendly design seamlessly blends with interior decor, providing an ideal environment for house plants to flourish. The efficient self-watering system keeps the soil moist for plants, reducing the need for frequent manual watering and preventing overwatering, a common concern for indoor gardening. With a size suitable for accommodating various house plants, from small herbs to medium-sized houseplants, it strikes a balance between capacity and space-saving.
Unlike other self-watering planters, GARDENIX DECOR Self-watering Pots feature a water level indicator that removes the guesswork of watering your plants. Featuring drainage holes, it offers superior water retention and drains excess water. This planter is worth considering if you're seeking a practical and hassle-free solution for nurturing your house plants.
Size
5.5 inch
Material
Plastic, Polypropylene
Weight
16 Ounces
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Click & Grow Smart Garden System
Best For Herbs
overall
Price
$$
Material Quality
Sturdiness
Ease of Use
In the ever-evolving realm of indoor gardening, Click and Grow's Smart Garden 3 emerges as a shining beacon of innovation and effectiveness. Designed for those who cherish the freshness of home-grown herbs but lack the time or expertise for traditional gardening, this self-watering planter offers a harmonious blend of technology and nature.
The Smart Garden 3 boasts a contemporary, minimalist design that harmonizes effortlessly with any interior decor. Its compact dimensions guarantee a seamless fit on kitchen countertops, windowsills, or office desks. The user-friendly interface and straightforward setup process make it accessible, even for those with limited gardening experience. A standout feature of the Smart Garden 3 is its self-watering system, which guarantees precise watering levels for plants, eliminating the need for guesswork and constant monitoring typically associated with traditional plant care methods. The 40 oz water reservoir is designed to last weeks, not days, reducing the need for constant refills.
Unlike the other self-watering planters, Click and Grow's Smart Garden 3 is equipped with energy-efficient LED grow lights. This feature ensures that plants receive the optimal amount of light, regardless of the prevailing ambient conditions. This proves particularly advantageous in areas with limited natural sunlight or during the winter season. The Smart Garden 3 uses specially designed plant pods, ensuring the plants have the ideal conditions to thrive. These pods contain seeds, smart soil, and all the necessary nutrients, ensuring a high germination rate and healthy growth.
Size
12" x 4 3/4" x 18 1/2" high.
Material
BPA-free plastic construction
Weight
2 lb. 9 oz
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Vego Garden Raised Garden Bed Kits
Best Self-Watering Garden Bed
overall
Price
$$$$$
Material Quality
Sturdiness
Ease of Use
In today's era of sustainable living and eco-conscious gardening, the demand for innovative solutions continues to grow. The Vego Garden Raised Garden Bed Kits have emerged as a promising option for those looking to efficiently cultivate their own produce while conserving water and minimizing maintenance efforts.
The Vego Garden Raised Garden Bed Kits feature an elegant, contemporary design that effortlessly blends into any outdoor environment. Constructed from durable materials, the garden bed exudes quality craftsmanship. Its compact size suits smaller spaces like balconies or urban gardens, making it accessible to many garden enthusiasts. A standout characteristic of the Vego Garden Raised Garden Bed Kits is their built-in self-watering system. Equipped with a reservoir that holds an ample amount of water, this garden bed provides a consistent and efficient water supply to your plants. The capillary matting system guarantees plants receive the appropriate amount of water, minimizing the potential for overwatering or underwatering.
Setting up the Vego Garden Raised Garden Bed Kits is straightforward, with clear instructions provided. The included components fit together well, and no specialized tools are required. Maintenance is minimal, thanks to the self-watering system, which reduces manual watering frequency. However, occasional reservoir cleaning may be necessary to prevent algae buildup. While it comes with a slightly higher price tag compared to conventional garden beds, its effectiveness and long-term advantages make it a worthwhile investment. The savings in water usage and reduced maintenance time make it a cost-effective choice for serious gardeners.
Size
17" H x 13.5" D
Material
Durable PP5 plastic
Weight
33 pounds
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Lechuza Nido Cottage 35 Self-Watering Planter
Best Hanging Self-Watering Planter
overall
Price
$$
Material Quality
Sturdiness
Ease of Use
The Lechuza Cottage Hanging Self-Watering Planter combines a sophisticated design with efficient functionality to cater to the needs of plant enthusiasts. The combination of its self-watering system, ease of assembly, and suitability for various hanging plants renders it a practical option for both indoor and outdoor environments.
The Lechuza Cottage Hanging Self-Watering Planter features a modern and refined design that seamlessly harmonizes with a wide range of outdoor and indoor settings. Crafted from durable materials, its graphite finish adds a touch of sophistication. The planter's size and shape are well-suited for various hanging plants, making it a versatile choice for greenery enthusiasts. At the heart of this planter's functionality lies its self-watering system, which sets it apart from traditional hanging planters. The built-in reservoir holds an adequate water supply, and the capillary wick efficiently delivers moisture to the plant's roots as needed. This functionality lessens the necessity for frequent manual watering and mitigates the potential for overwatering or underwatering.
Setting up the Lechuza Cottage Hanging Self-Watering Planter is a straightforward process, with detailed instructions included. The components fit together seamlessly, requiring no specialized tools. Maintenance is relatively low, thanks to the self-watering system. However, occasional cleaning and refilling of the reservoir are necessary to ensure optimal plant health. While this self-watering planter represents a moderate investment compared to standard hanging planters, its long-term benefits and innovative features make it a valuable addition to any gardener's collection. The savings in time and water usage and the enhanced plant health justify its price point.
Size
13.78" D x 13.78" W x 9.06" H
Material
Stainless Steel, Polypropylene
Weight
2 Kilograms
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Self-Watering Planter & Propagation Station
Best Self Water Planter With Propagation
overall
Price
$$
Material Quality
Sturdiness
Ease of Use
The Self-Watering Planter with Propagation Station offers a well-balanced combination of form and function. Its self-watering system and propagation capabilities make it a versatile choice for plant enthusiasts looking to simplify their gardening routine and foster new plant life. Crafted with glass, ceramic, and terra cotta with a focus on helping house plants thrive while growing a new one from the mother plant. The planter's size and layout accommodate a variety of plants, while the propagation station provides an ideal space for nurturing new growth.
At the core of this product's functionality is its self-watering system. The integrated reservoir efficiently holds water, and the capillary wick ensures plants receive moisture as needed. This feature minimizes the need for frequent manual watering, providing a consistent water supply to plants. Additionally, the propagation station allows for the successful development of new plants, making it a versatile tool for gardeners.
Setting up the Self-Watering Planter with Propagation Station is a straightforward process, thanks to comprehensive instructions. The components fit together seamlessly, and no specialized tools are required. Maintenance is relatively low, primarily consisting of occasional cleaning and refilling of the reservoir. However, including propagation features does add an extra layer of responsibility for those seeking to grow new plants.
Size
7.7" L x 5.3" W x 6" H
Material
Glass, ceramic, terra cotta
Weight
N/A
What We Like
What We Don't Like
How We Picked
In curating this collection of the best self-watering planters, we undertook a comprehensive evaluation procedure. We rigorously assessed their practical performance by scrutinizing customer feedback across diverse retail platforms and conducting hands-on testing of these self-watering planters. Our primary emphasis was directed towards evaluating their materials, size, design, water-holding capacity, and overall value.